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Rockies :: Kananaskis :: Pocaterra Ridge

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Panoramic view south from central part of Pocaterra ridge.   Little Highwood Pass upper center right dropping down to Rockfall Valley used for loop hike option.  Kananaskis Trail to the left with views (L-R) of Mt.Rae, Mt. Arethusa, Mt. Storm and Mist Mountain

August 28, 2020

Probably best loop hike in scenic Highwood Pass area.  Terminal Ends are at Little Highwood Pass area day-use /  Highwood Pass, and with 2 cars most groups opt for 1-way traverse, usually in South - North direction.   However very scenic Rockfall valley on east side of Pocaterra Ridge can be used for return, or even better approach, thus allowing for recommended full loop.  In that case suggested is clockwise direction with start from Little Highwood Day Use. That way best is left for last, including beautiful sunset above K-lakes on return if your timing is right.  Description and gallery / stats are given for this option.  Note seasonal closure of Kananaskis Trail Dec 1 - June 15 south of Kananaskis Lakes turnoff;  this hike is best done as late summer / early fall trip.

From parking at Little Highwood day use, cross the highway and find trail on the other side (almost opposite to day use entrance).  Trail drops down willow bush and crosses Pocaterra creek;  later in season this crossing is fairly trivial.  Main thing is to decide on direction;  Pocaterra Ridge first or last?  If going up Rockfall Valley first as suggested, some people had problems finding turnoff -- use GPS track download from top of page if in doubt.   Or simply trash up the valley as bushwhack is not bad;  trail peters out soon enough anyways.  After about an hour from parking lot forest edge is reached at base of huge boulder slide coming off from the right -- it is apparent where "Rockfall" name comes from!   Hike up on left side at edge of larch forest, then transition to the right and eventually descend to flats hosting seasonal Rockfall Lake in center part of the valley.  If full this lake is very beautiful when seen from Pocaterra Ridge above.   If lake has dried out simply walk across the flats, otherwise circle around on west side then hike up shallow canyon to upper valley below Little Highwood Pass.  Good scree trail can be found below the pass just left of cream colored scree demarcation.  There are no problems here, although snow lingers fairly long as slope falls in shade early in the day.  From the pass turn left and ascend initially following well-defined switchbacks, then angle right as rib becomes a bit jagged. This part is lose and the crux, specially if snow has not melted (in that case easier option is to simply descend south on other side of the pass, then hike up much gentler trail branching off from Grizzly Col trail).  South end is the "summit of the day" and built corals testify most groups take their lunch breaks there.

Full ridge traverse in moderate pace to north end will take 1.5 - 2 hours.  Initial part is the worst;  descent with couple of scramble steps and hard shale;  hiking poles are huge asset here.  Stay right (east) of rocky rib lower down.  Conditions eventually mellow down and what remains is simply beautiful grassy hike over couple of bumps with fantastic views east towards Opal Range.  Elbow Lake and valley leading to Tombstone Pass / Rae Lake looks very inviting from this angle!  Trail eventually descends to grassy saddle where hunter trail comes in from the right.  Continue on the other side and climb through larch forest -- this part looks spectacular in second part of September!  Reaching open north end trail switchbacks down initially on grass then forest in lower part, eventually meeting Rockfall valley trail junction near Pocaterra creek crossing and the highway.

(If starting from Highwood Pass follow well defined trail for into the cirque below Mt. Tyrwhitt, then turn right (south) as trail starts ascent to Grizzly col.  Hike up moderate scree to South end of the ridge meeting trail ascending from Little Highwood Pass)

Gallery